Anyone pay 1st price, Even if it's fair ? Poll


As I peruse the ads all too much on Audiogon, I have flat out come to the conclusion, I am better off listing something higher than what it value is, than to list a fair price and list it as a firm price. All too often firm prices get views not offers.

It seems everyone wants to get a deal. I know the very term "fair" will spark some controversy, since the term alone is very subjective.

I'd like to know how others view this. Do you pay a fair price when it is fair to you, or do you still try to get a few bucks off?
Do you list higher than fair,knowing you will be asked to go to your lowere (fair) price?
Just curious,
Tom
carmantom
It depends on the market, and how quickly I want to sell. Many times it's just a matter of timing. If I'm in no hurry, I'll place what I feel is a fair price. If I want to move it quickly, I'll lower the price. If priced right, it'll move quickly.
To answer your question, yes, I've paid full price. If I see something I want at a fair price, I jump on it, no questions asked. I find items are usually sold in the first 24 hours, and many times less.

There are some here who are looking for the best deal, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you don't want to haggle, price the item accordingly. The market will dictate the items value. If you price it at a no-haggle price, it'll be sold within 24 hours. If no one wants to pay your asking price, you may be placing more value on the item then the general public, and maybe you shouldn't sell it.
Tom:
IMO, the issues are a bit more complex. Having been an avid AG "watcher" for quite some time, I have clearly seen that "things" move in packs and patterns. For instance, a particular item may not have any listings more months....and then all of a sudden there are three of them available. Some product groups seem to go through spells of being "in favor" and being "out of favor". In short, the marketplace is living and breathing.

An easy method to have a pretty clear idea of what things are worth is to subscribe to the AG BlueBook. True, for things that are out of favor, the listings in the BlueBook may be just a bit wishful, but in the long term it is a good guideline. Once you get to have a pretty good idea of the market, you will generally see that things get listed that are sometimes overpriced, sometimes a fair price and occasionally a good deal.

I pretty well know exactly what I am looking for. When I see it, I generally already have a pretty good idea of the moving market valuations. If if shows up as a bargain, I will be reluctant to even ask questions, as I know that someone else out there is waiting to pull the trigger. In these cases, I just feel lucky if I am the first to get there, and I gladly pay the asking price.

Yes, there will always be tire kickers, and bottom dwellers. That is the nature of the market. But in my experience, good quality product priced fairly will always sell.....sometimes very quickly and sometimes not so quickly. I have sold things that I thought were priced fairly that have taken multiple listings to sell. I have also sold things that I thought were on the very upper edge of anything resembling reasonable and come home to find my inbox flooded with people standing in line to take a number hoping to pay the asking price. Go figure!

Sorry for your experiences, but don't let it get you down. The market moves a lot, and right now (based upon my experience) pricing is at a two-year HIGH. Knowing this, I would just take things in stride when people try to bid you down. If you could compare AG pricing now with AG pricing during the first six months of 2002, I think you would be just a bit suprised at the levels of "price appreciation" and "price expectation".
I pay asking price ALL the time,, and almost ALL the time i do not go down anything at all on my listing price when i sell,,I just really dont like the "game" and do not respond to a listing that is priced too high and of course,, conversely really do not like lowball offers.
I only make offers on something if i REALLY have been looking for something for a long time and cannot find it,, then and only then will i make an offer on a listing that i believe to be above fair market value.

GOOD POST!
If I am looking for an item I have done my research and have a pretty good idea of what the fair market price for that item should be. If I find the said item listed at that price I will offer to buy it at asking price as I think most folks on this site will do. As for selling items this holds true. I will list the item for a fair price and I think most people who are looking to purchase the item I am selling here on this site have a good idea of what the item is worth and will just straigt out purchase the item. There are always exceptions, but in general this holds true!
i have no problem buying at marked cost if its a peice ive been lookin for & i rarely ask for "a deal" unless i have seen the peice i want for a lower price & in the same condition from a trusted seller.

now when im selling im usually willing to eat the shipping costs as a gesture of good faith but normally thats as far as i go.

my perspective on most lowballers is that most are either tire kickers or new to the hobby & really think they are going to find the deal of the century.

i have in the past asked for lower pricing but every time its been for gear that was only 10% to 20% lower than the cost new.